System and method for evaluating ground-fault circuit interrupters

Abstract

A system for evaluating at least one tripping stimulus for a ground-fault circuit interrupter includes: a sensing circuit configured to measure a leakage current from a voltage line to ground, wherein the sensing circuit is capable of generating a leakage signal including a voltage representative of the leakage current; and an evaluating circuit configured to evaluate the leakage signal to generate an indication signal, wherein the indication signal includes information corresponding to the at least one tripping stimulus. The sensing circuit may include a circuit substantially similar to at least a portion of a ground-fault circuit interrupter, and the evaluating circuit may include a peak hold circuit. The system may further include an indicator circuit for receiving the indication signal and displaying a status of the tripping conditions.

1. A testing system for evaluating at least one tripping stimulus for a separate ground-fault circuit interrupter device comprising:
 a sensing circuit configured to measure a leakage current from a power line to ground, wherein said sensing circuit is capable of generating a leakage signal representative of said leakage current; 
 an evaluating circuit configured to evaluate said leakage signal to generate an indication signal, said indication signal varying over time in response to said leakage signal; and 
 an indicator circuit for receiving said indication signal and displaying a status of said leakage, said indicator circuit capable of variably indicating a quantity of said leakage current. 
 
   
   
     2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said evaluating circuit comprises a peak hold circuit. 
   
   
     3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said indicator circuit comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes. 
   
   
     4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said sensing circuit comprises a circuit substantially similar to at least a portion of a ground-fault circuit interrupter. 
   
   
     5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said sensing circuit and said evaluating circuit are capable of drawing power from said voltage line. 
   
   
     6. The system of  claim 1  further comprising a circuit for causing a fault in a ground-fault circuit interrupter. 
   
   
     7. The system of  claim 1  further comprising a circuit for evaluating whether a neutral line is grounded. 
   
   
     8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said indication signal comprises a voltage representative of a peak voltage on said leakage signal. 
   
   
     9. A tester for evaluating at least one tripping stimulus for a separate ground-fault circuit interrupter comprising:
 a sensing circuit configured to sense a difference in currents between at least two conductors, said sensing circuit is capable of providing a first signal indicative of said difference in currents between said at least two conductors; and 
 an evaluator circuit configured to evaluate said first signal to form a second signal, wherein said second signal comprises variable status information of said difference in currents between said at least two conductors displayable to a user; and 
 an indicator circuit for variably displaying said status information. 
 
   
   
     10. The tester of  claim 9  wherein said indicator circuit comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes. 
   
   
     11. The tester of  claim 9  further comprising an alternating current wiring testing circuit. 
   
   
     12. The tester of  claim 9  further comprising a circuit for indicating whether a neutral line is connected to ground. 
   
   
     13. The tester of  claim 9  further comprising a circuit for causing a fault condition in the separate ground-fault circuit interrupter. 
   
   
     14. A method for testing a tripping condition for a separate ground-fault circuit interrupter comprising:
 measuring a current leakage on power lines capable of being regulated by a ground-fault circuit interrupter; 
 forming a first signal representative of said current leakage; 
 evaluating said first signal to form a variable second signal indicative of said leakage; current and 
 variably indicating said second signal. 
 
   
   
     15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein said second signal is variably indicated with a plurality of light emitting diodes. 
   
   
     16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein said second signal comprises information corresponding to at least one of: current leakage between said power lines and ground; noise on said power lines; and whether a neutral line of said power lines is connected to said ground. 
   
   
     17. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of evaluating said first signal comprises holding a peak voltage of said first signal representative of said current leakage to form at least in part said second signal. 
   
   
     18. The method of  claim 14 , wherein said second signal comprises status information corresponding to a status of the separate ground-fault circuit interrupter. 
   
   
     19. The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of said second signal is storable in an electronically readable memory.